1.

Bring about Economy Recovery and Job Creation through Enforcing an ¥11 trillion 2nd Supplementary Budget

 

(1)

Enforce emergency employment measures such as creating jobs, support of the unemployed, and so forth (¥5 trillion). Create more than 1.4 million jobs in fields that will be necessary for the future (¥3 trillion). Reinforce the employment insurance system base (¥1 trillion) and drastically fortify occupational training/job skill development projects (sub total ¥2 trillion).

(2)

Enact standard of living stability measures to restore consumption/economy (¥4.5 trillion). Establish the basis for a basic pension through increasing government liability to one half (¥2.2 trillion). Increase consumption through drastically expanding dependent allowances (¥2.3 trillion).

(3)

Append the credit guarantee framework for small to mid-sized businesses and reinforce support measures for small to mid-sized businesses (¥1.5 trillion).

 

(4)

Oppose budgetary plans relating to the freezing/reduction of nursing care insurance premiums.

 

2.

Establish the "Worker Protection Law" to Secure Employment Stability

 

(1)

Realize the "Worker Protection Against Changes in Business Organization Law"(tentative). When business organization structures change, unfair practices such as dismissals are likely to occur. Realize the "supplementary resolution" admitted by both the House of Representatives and the House of Chancellors at the adoption of the Industrial Revitalization Law, for the immediate realization of the "Worker Protection Against Changes in Business Organization Law" (tentative) at the extra ordinary Diet session. The "Worker Protection Law" prescribes that management should maintain labor contracts, labor agreements and worker representatives, labor conditions be secured, dismissals prohibited, and so forth.

 

(2)

Revision of "Civil Procedure Revitalization Bill" "Civil Procedure Revitalization Bill" corrects flaws in the Composition Law, yet problems still remain in: a) Enrichment of securing wage credit measures b) Business transfer regulations To correct these flaws, RENGO will seek to: a) Secure wage credits over tax credits and strengthen bankruptcy measures by making credit "common benefit." b) Clarify that this is "limited only when business continues" in instances when a court of justice permits business transfers. Further, this bill should be enacted at the same time as the aforementioned "Worker Protection Law."

 

3.

Radical Reform for a Safe and Reliable Pension and Medical Care System and the Realization of a Nursing Care Insurance System

 

(1)

Radical Rearrangement of the Revised Pension Bill The government draft is a step backward in that it aims restrain provision levels, by reducing its future liability which was decided in the last revision. RENGO demands the following four points to drastically rearrange the government's plan. RENGO wants the draft to be discarded if drastic revision is not realized. a) Revoke lowering multipliers for the remuneration-based portion of Employee Pensions and maintain income indexation. b) Immediate increase of government liability on basic pensions to one half. c) Revise the reduction rates for early pension benefits in response to the raising of the eligibility age for Aged Employee's Pensions, and enact these revisions from the 2001 fiscal year. d) Reconsider the unreasonable Old-Age Pension System for active workers while in office, revoke the government's draft which seeks to expand the system into the upper 60's age bracket, and introduce a provision restriction scheme for high-income earners based on their gross income.

 

(2)

Smooth Enforcement of the Nursing Care Insurance Scheme The agreement by the three ruling parties which includes the postponement of collecting nursing care insurance premiums, shakes the framework of the system bringing great confusion to the workplace. RENGO strongly demands that the following points to be implemented. a) Maintain the current system framework, which fundamentally provides in kind, and seek fair and transparent management of the system. b) Pour energy into the preparation of an infrastructure of insufficient home-care service not providing any cash that will demolish the framework of nursing care insurance. c) Insurance premiums will not be uniformly frozen in light of the purpose of the nursing care insurance system. For low-income seniors, separate measures will be provided to reduce defrayment.

 

(3)

Enforce Radical Reform in Medical Care/Medical Care Insurance System a) RENGO will vigorously pursue the government and the ruling party LDP's responsibility for postponing reform and secure a foothold for enforcing reforms for the 2000 fiscal year. b) Together with the on going parallel discussion in the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) deliberations, oppose the increase of medical consultation fees in order to secure a brake for the budgetary compilation at the end of the year. c) For "Medical Care reform," enforce radical changes for a medical consultation compensation system, a drag tariff system, a health service system for the elderly, and a medical service provision framework in the 2000 fiscal year. d) To reduce the continuous rises in the contribution cost for health care for the elderly, RENGO demands a substantial increase over the government's current burden of 30% for elderly health care. e)Strongly oppose any increase in the ceiling of medical care insurance premiums.

 

4.

Realize the Small to Mid-sized Business Related Bill to Create Revitalized Firms The government settled the Small to Mid-sized Enterprise Basic Law Amended Bill in the Cabinet on October 29 and submitted it to the extraordinary Diet session. Furthermore, related bills for support of small to mid-sized firms are also under examination tied in to the 2nd supplementary budget. As small to mid-sized business account for 70% of all workers in Japan and sustains regional economies, RENGO will seek the realization of the following. Improvement of job/labor conditions for workers in small to mid-sized businesses, a small to mid-sized business promotion law to create revitalized firms-stimulating job creation through activated small to mid-sized businesses-and prepare legislation for the establishment of fair trade.

 

5.

Realize Fair and Transparent Politics which Reflects the Will of the Nation

 

(1)

Reduce proportional representation in the House of Representatives. The ruling party's agreement is an outrageous attempt to unilaterally set the election system by only reducing the proportion of representatives. RENGO will ask the three parties to take the agreement back that they promised to "deal with at the beginning of the current extraordinary Diet session" and establish a proper place of discussion. Further, RENGO will seek discussion that will gain results, not only over the election system problem but also general political reform, which will earn the nation's trust.

 

(2)

Enact the Political Funds Control Law as per the supplementary provision and prohibit political contributions from corporations and private organizations. RENGO demands that each political party take prompt measures to prohibit political contributions from corporations and private organizations after January 2000 as per the supplementary provision of the Political Funds Control Law.

 

(3)

Adopt a resolution to urge the resignation of House of Representative Member Fujinami Representative Fujinami was convicted on charges of accepting bribes for political favors in the "Recruit scandal." Having once held the key government position of Chief Cabinet Secretary, he should bear the blame for his crime and resign on his own. RENGO demands that the Diet adopt a resolution to urge House member Fujinami's resignation from the Diet without delay to demonstrate its ethical responsibility to the nation.

 

6.

Establish the Prevention and Safety Against Accidents of [Critical] Radiation Exposure at Nuclear Power-Related Facilities Given the problems that occurred at the Tokaimura uranium-processing facility accident last September 30, RENGO will request the following measures be taken for the drastic reinforcement of preventative safety measures against nuclear-disasters.

 

(1)

Institute the following: Establish "multi-layer protective barrier" facilities and safe management conditions at all nuclear power-related facilities including nuclear fuel processing plants. Strengthen control and supervision for safe operation and inspection systems. Radically reinforce the radioactivity gauging facilities, placements, ability, and implementation.

(2)

Enact the Nuclear Disaster Law (tentative) which would legislate advanced preparation of disaster countermeasures in the event of a nuclear accident. These would include evacuation guidance, disaster medical care, information disclosure and communication, creating disaster prevention plans that mandate disaster prevention drills, preparing equipment for disaster prevention, and so forth.

 

7.

Realize Revision of Civil Law such as the Marriage System etc. Submit a civil law amendment made by the House Representative members for passing at the extraordinary Diet session.

 

8.

Advocate Early Implementation of National Personnel Authority Advice on Wages for All Public Workers